Justice News

Former Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Captain Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

Scott Beard admits he embezzled $205,000 in law enforcement funds

EUGENE, Ore – Former Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Captain Scott Raymond Beard, 46, of Bend, Oregon, pleaded guilty today to four felony offenses related to an embezzlement scheme where he stole $205,000 in taxpayer funds and laundered some of the tainted cash. The government alleges Beard laundered the cash to pay expenses on behalf of his co-defendant, Krista Jean Mudrick, 35, of Bend, Oregon. Mudrick is also a former employee of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office and is charged with making false statements to the FBI and IRS about Beard’s expenditures of the ill-gotten gains. Her case is pending, and she is presumed innocent.

Beard appeared in court today and, pursuant to a plea agreement, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of funds from a federally funded program, and two counts of money laundering. A related count, passport fraud, was dismissed.

United States District Judge Michael McShane presided over Beard’s guilty plea and will sentence him on August 23, 2016. Beard faces up to twenty years in prison and will pay full restitution to Deschutes County.

This case was investigated by the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Cardani is prosecuting the case.